Apparatus for feeding envelops.



PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907.

F. G. JENKINS. v APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ENVBLOPS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 868,093. PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907.

Y F. 0. JENKINS.

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ENVELOPS. urmouzon FILED 11.12, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a? fla /721072- 7 I5 Edema: ct J6 dressing machine where they are suitably addressed and afterwards conveys them from such machine and UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK YRIL JENKINS, OF GOLllING'lON, NEAR BEDFORD, ENGLAND, 'ASSIGNOR TO LAURA LUCRETIA JENKINS, OF GOLDINGTON, NEARBEDFORD, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ENVELOPS.

Application filed January 12, 1907. Serial No- 352,006.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FREDERICK CYRIL JENKINS, a

subject of the-King of England, residing at The Grange,

Goldington, near Bedford, England, manufacturer, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatusfor Feeding Envelops to Addressing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description and for which I have applied for Letters Patent in Great Britain, dated December 12,1906, No. 28,371.

This invention has reference to an apparatus for feeding envelops to envelop-addressing machines. It consists of apparatus adapted to contain a number of envelops and capable of being fitted to such a machine, these envelops being attached to or picked up by a traveling band or apron which feeds them to the ad- Figure 1 shows in side elevation the apparatus and addressing machine, the former being in centralsec-- tion. Fig. 2 is a front elevation with a portion of the machine broken away so as to show clearly the platen and-band. Fig. 3 shows the ends of the band ready for connection together. Fig. 4 represents the same when joined. Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the band. Fig.

6 shows the chute in which the envelops are placed.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a convex roller. j Fig. 8 shows a guide for the band so as to divert it from its line of travel and bring it towards the flap of the envelop.

The traveling band-or apron employed in this apparatus is shown consisting of asheet 1 of stontflexible material such as paper or linen provided with transverse slots 2 and gussets 3 forming pouches into which the flaps of the envelops enter so that the envelop is engaged by and carried along with the band. The, slot and gusset may be of any desiredshape, straight or 0therwise in theexa'mple illustrated the slot iscurved and the gusset ispf slightly larger extent so as to cover completely the ba -2 formed in theband by the slot. This arrangement possesses the advantage of facilitating the ultimate discharge or detachment of the 'envelop from the band. The free end of the gusset is at right angles Specification of Letters Patent.

the roller 14 ,down to the roller 12 again.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

to the edges of the band or to the line of travel of the band in order to secure correct alinement of the envelo'ps as they are presented to the striking face of the type. As a pocket approaches the flap of the envelop it bellies out, see Figs. 1 and 2, and consequently the tongue of the flap is with certainty engaged by the pocket. Prc ferably this band is of a width in excess of that of the envelops intended to be used therewith and the distance of the slots 2 apart is greater than the height or depth of the envelop of the maximum width proposed to be used upon the band. I

The band is shown joined at its ends so as to form a continuous apron or belt by means of the slots 4, 5 at each end which are interconnected by means of the flexible strip 6 of metal, xylonite or the like. Alternatively the ends of the bands may be pasted or similarly secured together. This band 1 is represented on the accompanying drawings (Fig. 1) as extending around the platen or cylinder 7 of the typewriting machine. The band l passes out from a frame work or structure Stile wheelbase 9 of which is mounted on wheels 10 so that the wheelbase and the frame supported thereby move in conformity with the longitudinal i'novements of the platen 7. The band is drawn from the apparatus 8, 9 by the revolution of the platen in the ordinary way, the usual clips or guides 35, 35 maintaining the band in frictional contact with the -writer are shown at 33, while 34 is the usual grip roller which holds the band and envelop against the platen- 'l. The ordinary sliding clips or stops which hbld the hand down upon the platen are represented at 35 in Figs. 1 and 2. The carriage 36 travels on the rails37 of the typewriter. The ribbon spool is shown at 38 the spool winder at 38 and the bell at 39. The frame 8 is shown comprising parallel end members 8 suitably braced and tied by means of the rods 11, 11; it carries rollers 12, 13 and 14 conveniently journaled or spindled at 40, 41 and 42 respectively in the end members 8 and the band passes around. these rollers in the direction indicated by the arrows. The

roller 12 is the lowest on in the frame and the band I extends thencegover the rolle'r l3 and after having been wound around'the platen 7 it is returned over Above the point where the'band rises from the roller 1 2, it passes close to a chute 15 wherein the envelops have been placed with their flaps towards said band.

The chiite is composed ofa hopper into which the envelops .16, 16.are' stacked and it is so inclined at for example 45 that the foremost envelop 16 falls against the traveling band 1 and its flap 16 is engaged by the pouch or pocket of the band. The band asit is drawn up from the roller 12 by the rotation of the platen sags at the gusset of the pouch and engages and lifts the envelop and conveys it over the roller 13 to the platen 7 of the typewriting machine. On this portion of its journey it passes over a lower runway shown here as a turtleback 17 which consists ,of an arched or curved surface mounted between the end members 8" of the frame. i

An upper runway also shown here as a turtleback 18 is similarly arranged between the members 8 and over this surface 18 the band 1 still carrying the'envelop 16 passeson its return from the top of the platen 7. The upper turtleback l8 extends ,.over the lower one in the direction of the typewriter being beveled or dropped at-its extremity 18 to facilitate the travel of the band and envelops. At its other end the turtlehack 18 projects beyond the roller 13 and up to the roller 14 being practically tangential thereto so as to lead the band to the said roller whence the band is shown dcscending almost vertically to the roller 12. The roller 13 is with advantage made of larger diameter than either of the rollers l2, 14 because when passing around this roller13 the envelop is on its front with the flap away from the roller. These three rollers 12, 13 and 14 may be cylindrical, convexed'or concave as may be desired; on the drawings they are shown cylindrical.

The end members 8 may extend upwardly above the turtleback 18 to a slight extent if so desired; in this way these extensions may, asshown at 19 for example, afford guides or flanges forfthe'turtleback 18 and may so prevent undesirable lateral movement of the band 1. p

It will be noted that whereas between the rollers 12 and 13 and the platen the envelope are upon the under side of the band 1, the latter after passing around the platen 7 is of course" inverted. with the result that when the band leaves the turtleback 18 in order to descend to the roller 12 as shown by the arrow the envelops are inverted and as soon as they are clear of the roller 14, that is to say when the flap is no longer held between the pocket gusset 3 or the band 1 and the roller 14,they will fall by their own weight, being jerked off if necessary by the advance of 'the band from the ,platen. In order,'however, to insure the detachment of the addressed envelop from the band 1 and in case the envelop should from anycause have become adherent thereto, I may provide a deflector plate 20 curvedoutwardly from the path of the band '1 and having a striking roller at its end nearestv the band 1. This plate is mounted. on a suitable" support as a bracketj22 riveted or otherwise aflixed to the frame of the machine 8. A hopper or other receiver may be arranged away from theband land outwardly below this deflector plate 20 in order to collect the envelope as they leave the band, but such collector is notshown on the drawings. i

In the arrangement illustrated'in Fig. 8 I have shown a spring-pressed roller'23 guiding the band 1 between the rollers 12 and 13 outwardly towards the flaps of the envelops. I The spring 24 presses the roller 23 in that direction in a yielding manner and this device insures the proper engagement of the flaps a guard plate '25 which ,also insures the guiding of the attachment 8.

wheel base 9, rollers 12, 13, 14 andturtlebacks 18, 19

is secured to the carriage of the typewriter in any convenient way. The rollers or wheels 10 running onthe table, desk or other support allow the attachment to travel longitudinally with the platen of the machine and in lorder that with a typewriter having a shift key in which the carriage is displaced in a direction at right angles to that of its longitudinal movement, the carriage may be able to shift without hindrance from the attachment, .1 connect the carriage or bed which carries the platen by means of hinged bars or connections such as 26, 26 with the end member 8 or other convenient portion of the The bars 26 are shown in the example illustrated, as pivoted at 27 to the end members 8 and atthe other end clipped to or sprung over a bar or guid'e'roll 28-mounted on'thc carriage. Other hinged connections between the attachment 8 and the carriage of the typewriter may be used as the equivalent of the one now described.

The chute for the stacked envelope and comprising a hopper 15 has a forward edge or fiange'29 against which the bottom or lowest part of the foremost envelop will hear. The lower part of'the. chute is of smaller. size than the upper so as to allow for the increased thickness of the stack of envelops at the top because of their flaps. It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. I that the envelope as they fallfrorn Having thus'd'escribed my invention. what I claim as such and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriterscomprising a frame work between the oppositehsides of which are disposed superposed runways, a band of flexible material, havingci'oss 'slots'at intervals, gussets of flexible material'sec'ured upon said bandcwitb one edge overlap .ping each of said slots, said gussets forming pouches wherein to secure the .flaps of em'elops, guide means -'in said frame for the band; said band having its going and return portions supported bysaid runways, means for causing the band to travel to anadjacent typewriter carrying with it the envelops, and means for diverting said envelops from said band after passage around the type writer platen. Y

2. An organized apparatus of the character described having in combination a typewritechaving'a platen, a band of flexible material having pouches formed thereon, said pouches being closed at the side's and open at the forward end, means for causing said band to travel ,around the platen of the typewriter and sidewise in conformity with the longitudinal movements of said platen, and means for feedingenvelops by means of their flaps to said traveling band. v

The combination with ,a typewriter having a movable carriage and a platen, of an attachment for said typewriter said attachment comprising a wheeled frame positioned relative to the typewriter and adapted to move coiirdinately with said carriage, guide roilers and superposed runways mounted in said frame, and a band having its going and return portions operable over said runways,

said band having-means for engaging, picking up and conveying envelops around said rollers and over said runways, and also passing around the platen of the typewriter.

4. An apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriting machines, comprising an attachment to the typewriting machine. said attachment being movable in conformity with the intermittent movements of the typewriter carriage. said attachment having end frames between which are mounted guide rollers and superposed runways. an endless band of flexible material having pouches to engage and convey cnvelops by means of their flaps, said band passing over said guide rollers, runways and the platen of the typewriiing machine.

An apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriters, comprising an attachment to the typewriter movable both longitudinally and transversely with the carriage of the typewriter. said attachment having end frames mounted on a base-said base fitted at each of its corners with wheels. superposed runways'and guide rollers arranged between said end frames and an endless band having pouches formed thereon to engage and lift envelops by their flaps, said band passing over said rollers and the platen of tae typewriter.

6. An envelop addressing machine having in combination a typewriting machine with a traveling carriage and platen. an attachmen. positioned proximate to the typewriting machine and movable in conformity with said carriage. runways mounted upon said attachment and leading to and from said carri: "e, a band of flexible ma terial passing over said runways, a holder for envelops arranged adjacent to said band said envelops being stacked with their flaps to face said band. and means carried by said band for engaging said liaps and carrying along said envelops.

comprising an attachment to the typewriter, said attachment being mounted on a base provided with wheelcar-ing axles at each of its ends and being linked by means of pivoted connections to the carriage of the typewriting machine. end frames to said attachment, guide rollers and superposed runways arranged between said end frames and an endless band having cross slots and gussets overlapping said slots. said band being adapted to pick up and convey envelops by means of their flaps over said rollers and runways to and fronrthe platen of the typewriter.

s. An apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriting machines. comprising an attachment to the typcwriting' machine. said attachment being movable in conformity with the intermittent movements of the typewriter carriage, said attachment having end frames between which are mounted guide rollers and runways, an'endless band of flexible material having pouches to engage and convey envelops by means of their flaps, said band passing oversaid guide rollers. runways and the platen of the typewriting machine. said band passing in front of a hopper coutaininga stack of envelops. said hopper having means for adjusting its width to correspond with the width of cnvelops employed.

0. An apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriting machines. comprising an attachment to the typewriting machine. said attachment being movable in conformity with the intermittent movements of the typewriter carriage, said attachment having end frames between which are mounted guide rollers and an upper runway. 21 second runway arranged below the upper runway. said second runway being also between the end frames but being shorter in length than the upper runway an endless band of flexible material having pouches to engage and convey cnvelops by means of their flaps. said band passing over said guide roliers, runways and the platen of the typewriring machine.

i An apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriting .machines. comprising an attachment to the typewriting machine, said attachment being movable in conformity with the intermittent movements of the typewriter carriage. said attachment having end frames between which are mounted guide rollers and an upper and .a lower runway. an endless band of flexible material having curved slots transversely of its length at intervals. gussets over lapping said' slots and forming pouches on said band, a

I. An apparatus for feeding. envelops to typewriters.-

hopper for envelops adjacent to said band. said hopper being of adjustable width to suit variously si zed stacks of envelops. said band passing over said guide rollers and runways and to and from the platen of the typewriting machine.

ll. An apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriting machines, comprising an attachment to the typewriting machine. said attachment being movable in conformity with the intermittent movements of the typewriter carriage. said attachment having end frames between which are. mounted guide rollers and an upper and a lower runway. an endless band of flexible material provided at intervals in its length with pouches, a hopper containing a stack of envelops arranged adjacent to said band with the flap of the foremost envelop adapted to be engaged by the porch, said hopper having adjustable guides whereby its width may be varied to suit envelops of different sizes. said band passing over said guide rollers and said runways and to and from the platen of the typewriting machine.

12. an apparatus for feeding cnvelops to typewriting machines. comprising an attachment to 'the typewriting machine. said attachment being movable in conformity with the intermittent movements of the typewriter carriage. said attachment having end frames between which are mounted guide rollers and superposed t'urtlebacks, an endless hand of flexible material provided with pouches. a hopper for envelops adjacent to said band. adjustable slides in said hopper to suit various sizes of cnvelops. said band being adapted to engage and convey said envelops from the hopper over the guide rollers to the lower turtleback, thence aroundthe platen and over the upper turtleback.

13. An apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriting machines, comprising an attachment to the typcwriting machine, said attachment being movable in conformi y with the intermittent movements of the typewriter carriage. said attachment having end frames between which are mounted guide rollers and a curved runway extending the full width between the end frames. a second similar curved runway of lesser length than the first. an endless band of flexible material having pouches to engage and convey envelops by means of their flaps. said band passing over said guide rollers. runways and the platen of the typewriting machine.

14. An apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriting machines, comprising an attachment to the typewriting machine, said attachment being movable in conformity with the intermittent movements of the typewriter carriage, said attachment having end frames between which are mounted runways extending the width ot the frames and curved longitudinally, a-guide roller revolubly ar ranged between said frames immediately in front of the lower runway. a second guide roller revoluhly arranged between said frames immediately after the upper runway. and a third guide roller revolubly mounted between said frames below the other guide rollers, a hopper containing stacked envelops inclined to said third roller so that the flaps of saidienvelops are above said roller, and an endless band passing over said rollers and around the platen of the typewriter having means for picking up and translating said envelops in succession.

15. In an apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriting machines, the combination of a typewriting machine having a traveling carriage and platen, an envelop feeding attachment proximate to the typewriting machine and movable coordinately with the carriage thereof, said attachment having a carrier for, feeding envelops to said platen,

and having upper and lower runways with end frames between which said runways are arranged, one of said runways having a'droppcd extremity facing the typewriter, and guide rollers adjacent to one extremity of said runways. said-runways being approximately tangential to said rollers.

16. In an apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriting machines. the combination of an attachment having end frames and a wheeled base. an upper turtleback between said end frames, at lower turtleback also between said end frames said upper turtleback having a dropped extremity facing the typewriting machine, with means for causing envelops to be picked up by an endless band and carried over said turtlebacks to and from the typewriting ma a traveling carriage provided with a platen. of a wheeledattachment to the machine so as to he movable with the carriage thereof. said attaclnnent having end frames be tween which are mounted guide roller and upper and lower runways, a hopper for envelops said.hopper being so in clined as to present t'heforemost envelop against a contiguous portion of the band. an endless hand having means for picking up said envelops and carrying them over said guide roller and runways to and from the platen of the machine and a deflector plate mounted on the attachment. and extending away therefrom.

is. [u an apparatus for feeding'envclops to typewriting machines. the combination of an endless hand of flexible material having cr s slots and gusset pieces'forming flexible pottches :e the. t'orenn:st. of a stack of envelops. with a typewriter platen, and runways over which said band is wound. said rollers and runways being mounted in a frame connected to the typewriting machine so as to move in conformity therewith.

lJ. In an apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriting machines. the combination of a band of flexible material provided with pouches at intervals in its length. a frame having a wheeled base and connected by pivoted links to the carriage of the typewritlng machine so as to he movable both longitudinally and laterally with the platen of the typewriting machine. guide rollers and runways mounted in said frame. and a hopper for stacked envelops having means for adjusting its width, said hand being arranged to pass over said guide rolls. and runways to and from the said platen, and automatically conveying en;

\clops from said hopper to and around said platen.

it). The combination with a typewriting machine having a tlavcling cart 2. a platen. and a shift-key, of envelop feeding means for said machine said means comprising an attachment ha ving a wheeled base and a holder for a stack ot' enrelops. an endless hand p ng from said attachment to and around the platen of said ty 'lewriter, andrt turning to said attachment, saidjhand having means for picking up and carrying along said envelops. and pivoted links between said attachment: and the carriage of said t pewriter. so that said carri ge may be displaced to allow the shift key to he employed.

1. In an apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriting machines. thecomhination of a hand of flexible material provided with pouches at intervals in its length a frame. having a wheeled base and connected by pivoted links to the carriage of the typewriting machine so as to he mot able hoth longitudinally and laterally with the platen of the typewriting machine. guide rollers and runways mounted in said frame. and a hopper for vstacked envelops having means for adjusting its \vidth,- said band heing arranged to pass over said guide rolls, and runways to and from the saithplattn, and automatically conveying envelops from said hopper to and around said platenv and a detlector plate upon the outer side of the fame adjzp l i l l ent to said band to deflect s:d envelops as they fall from said pouches.

:12. An apparatus t'or feeding envelops to typewriters comprising a wheeled attachment connected to the carriage of the typewriten a hand of flexible material passing out from said attachment to and around the platen of the typewriter. means for guiding said band. said means be ing carried by the attachment. a holder for stacked envelops arranged adjacent to the band. s:- d holder having adjustable guides at its side to allow its width to he adapted to different widths of envelops.

23,11) an apparatus for feeding envelops to typewriters;

nections to the marriage of said typewriter so as to move therewith, said attachment having end frames wherein rollers are mounted. an endless hand passing ,over d rollers and around the platen of the typewriter. said band being caused to travei by the revolution of the platen. a hopper wherein envelop:v are stacked so as to face the band and so set that the front envelop falls gainst: the hand, means carried by said band for engaging said envelops successively and conveying them around the platen of the typewriter. a lower turtlehack and an upper turtlelmck both arranged in the said attachment and over which the hand passes on its way to and from the platen.

dre sing machines. comprising an attachment to a typewriting ma hine having a wheeled hase and hinged connections to the carriage of said typewriter so as to move therewith, said attachment having end frames wherein rollers are mounted. an endless band passing over said rollers and around the platen of the typewriter. said hand being caused to travel by the revolution of the platen. a hopper wherein envelops are stacked so as to face the band and so set that the fronhenvelop falls against the hand, means ried by said hand for engaging saidcnvelops succe 'vely and conveying them around thejdaten of the typewriter, a lower turtlehack and an upper turtleback hoth arranged, in the said attachment and over which the band passes on its way to and from the platen.

In witness whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two \vit'ne 2s.

FR El )IC RlCK (fl'Rl L JENKINS.

Witnesses M Wum'rpmv, Cnut. Josnrn Fanny.

An apparatus for feeding envelops to enve10p-ad- 

